Match Stats/Report - Korda vs Krajicek, Stuttgart Indoor final, 1997

[Waspsting]

Petr Korda beat Richard Krajicek 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-4 in the Stuttgart Indoor final, 1999 on carpet

It would be Korda’s only Masters title and he would win the next Slam at Australian Open early the following year. Krajicek would win the title the following year. Among others, he beat Pete Sampras and Boris Becker en route to the final

Korda won 90 points, Krajicek 77

Krajicek serve-volleyed off all serves

(Note: I’m missing a game and 2 points. Missing parts -
- Set 1, Game 8 - a Krajicek service game that he won
- Set 1, Game 9, Points 1-2 - 2 Korda service points that he won

Krajicek’s total points include an extra 4 points, i.e. as if the missing game was to love, which is unconfirmed)

Serve Stats
Korda...
- 1st serve percentage (49/84) 58%
- 1st serve points won (38/49) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (26/35) 74%
- ?? serve points won (2/2)
- Aces 2, Service Winners 2
- Double Faults 2
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (20/84) 24%

Krajicek...
- 1st serve percentage (51/77) 66%
- 1st serve points won (40/51) 78%
- 2nd serve points won (13/26) 50%
- Aces 15 (1 second serve)
- Double Faults 3
- Unreturned Serve Percentage (40/77) 52%

Serve Patterns
Korda served...
- to FH 20%
- to BH 73%
- to Body 7%
(raw 16-60-6)

Krajicek served...
- to FH 59%
- to BH 26%
- to Body 15%
(raw 44-19-11)

Return Stats
Korda made...
- 34 (25 FH, 9 BH)
- 9 Winners (9 FH)
- 25 Errors, all forced...
- 25 Forced (14 FH, 11 BH)
- Return Rate (34/74) 46%

Krajicek made...
- 62 (15 FH, 47 BH), including 2 runaround FHs & 9 return-approaches
- 16 Errors, comprising...
- 9 Unforced (2 FH, 7 BH), including 1 return-approach attempt
- 7 Forced (1 FH, 6 BH)
- Return Rate (62/82) 76%

Break Points
Korda 3/4 (3 games)
Krajicek 0

Winners (including returns, excluding serves)
Korda 31 (18 FH, 7 BH, 5 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 OH)
Krajicek 12 (1 FH, 1 BH, 4 FHV, 5 BHV, 1 OH)

Korda had 18 passes - 9 returns (9 FH) & 9 regular (4 FH, 5 BH) -
- FH returns - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 2 inside-out, 3 inside-in
- regular FHs - 2 cc, 1 dtl, 1 inside-out
- regular BHs - 3 cc, 1 dtl, 1 dtl/inside-out

- regular (non-pass) FHs - 1 cc, 1 inside-out, 1 inside-out/dtl, 2 inside-in (1 at net)
- regular BHs - 1 cc, 1 dtl/inside-out

- 1 from a serve-volley point, a first volley FHV

Krajicek had 8 from serve volley points -
- 7 first volleys (3 FHV, 3 BHV, 1 OH)
- 1 second volley (1 FHV)

- 1 from a return-approach point, a BHV

- FH - 1 cc
- BH pass - 1 dtl

Errors (excluding serves and returns)
Korda 19
- 9 Unforced (7 FH, 2 BH)
- 10 Forced (1 FH, 5 BH, 1 FHV, 1 BHV, 1 Tweener)... with 1 swinging, non-net FHV pass attempt & 1 swinging, non-net BHV pass attempt
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 53.3 (raw 1-4-4)

Krajicek 34
- 16 Unforced (7 FH, 6 BH, 1 FHV, 2 BHV)
- 18 Forced (1 FH, 8 BH, 4 FHV, 4 BHV, 1 BHOH)
- Unforced Error Forcefulness Index 45 (raw 1-9-2-4)

(Note 1: All 1/2 volleys refer to such shots played at net. 1/2 volleys played from other parts of the court are included within relevant groundstroke numbers)

(Note 2: the Unforced Error Forcefulness Index is an indicator of how aggressive the average UE was. The numbers presented are keyed on 4 categories - 20 defensive, 40 neutral, 50 attacking and 60 winner attempt)

Net Points & Serve-Volley
Korda was...
- 14/17 (82%) at net, including...
- 1/2 serve-volleying, comprising...
- 1/1 off 1st serve and...
- 0/1 off 2nd serve
---
- 0/1 forced back

Krajicek was...
- 43/73 (59%) at net, including...
- 38/59 (64%) serve-volleying, comprising...
- 26/37 (70%) off 1st serve and...
- 12/22 (55%) off 2nd serve
---
- 2/9 (22%) return-approaching

Match Report
Fascinating match as Korda covers all bases in besting big serving, full serve-volleying Krajicek on a fast court. Spurts of successful early-taken pick-up returning to go with keeping his foot on accelerator in service games with no let up

0 break points faced by Korda. Even his average serve is effective on such a quick court and from the baseline, he puts Kraj to the sword or dismantles him behind it. Clinical, controlled aggression off the third ball - winners, error forcing or take charge shots - and quick finish, including at net. Or ‘just’ pressuring groundies to keep Kraj on back foot and squeeze error out

As such, his breaking chances rest in Korda messing up with attacking or edgy errors (as opposed to being aggressive, which he’s given next to 0 openings to be). Its not bad prospects. 5 games of flame grilling/being taken apart, 1 stumble is likely to be all it takes to snag a break. Korda with no stumbles, no hint of a stumble and no let-up

Which leaves the small matter of breaking the massive serving, 100% serve-volleying Kraj
Korda doesn’t take a step back on the return, taking them early, almost ‘pick-up’ style returning
He doesn’t have much success, and Kraj comes away with 52% unreturned serves, serving at 66% first serves in

Petr Korda serving at 58% vs Richard Krajicek serving at 66% on fast carpet with unreturned serves Korda 24%, Kraj with 52%. What would you guess the result of such a match was?

Korda doesn’t have much success returning. Other than when he does
8/9 of his return winners come in the 3 games he breaks in. Sans those, Kraj holds like clockwork serve-botting (all of Kraj's 3 volley UEs are also in tiebreak or games he's broken)
Those breaks win Korda 2 sets and tiebreak is a coin-flip deal with Kraj, who makes 7/7 first serves in it, blinking on easy volley to lose it (and Korda stumble free as rest of match)

Korda’s serve game & baseline
Just a decent serve from Korda, but good seconds. Its quick enough court that decent serve is likely to do damage
Kraj not looking for much with return. Block it back in play. He’s pretty good at it. In time, he looks to chip-charge second returns. Not bad at that either

Just 24% unreturend serves for Korda, with just couple of aces and service winners apiece (Kraj has 15 aces, to put in context). Even with low heat returning, that’s a good outcome for Kraj

Kraj’s return typically leaves Korda with moderate initiative and Korda’s virtually perfect in taking it from there.

- Few weak returns - dismissed with third ball winner or a strong approach
- Normal return (Korda with moderate initiative) - clinically attacked with wide and/or deep shot that either draws error or puts Korda in more control
- Good return (neutral position) - firmly struck first groundie that draws pressured error or elicits weaker ball, and Korda with initiative now

Having gained control, Korda finishes quickly with winner or easy beat-down pressuring play to draw error or coming to net commandingly to finish
When Kraj chip-charges, Korda calmly passes him as if there’s nothing else to do

78% first serve points, 74% seconds, no break points faced, QED

In baseline rallies -
- Winners - Korda 6 (4 FH, 2 BH), Kraj 1
- Errors forced - Korda 3, Kraj 1
- UEs - Korda 9 (7 FH, 2 BH), Kraj 13 (7 FH, 6 BH)

Defensive UEs - Kraj 1
Neutral UEs - Korda 1, Kraj 9
Attacking UEs - Korda 4, Kraj 1
Winner attempt UEs - Korda 4, Kraj 2

For starters, ‘neutral’ here is a relative term. Korda leads rallies, Kraj reacts. Its less than ‘attacking-defending’ but Korda with stronger groundies at almost all times
Korda’s BH is more than strong enough to match Kraj’s potentially dangerous FH and keeps it in check. And Kraj’s BH is distinctly pushed back by Korda’s FH

1 lousy neutral UE from Korda, while Kraj has 10 (including a defensive one). That’s the clinical dismantling, done as well it can be. Kraj isn’t loose, he’s just up against a better (more powerful, more secure and knowing just how to keep pressure on) baseliner. Just 1 winner and 1 error forced from Kraj is part of it too. Unless he goes for bonkers low percentage shots, he’s given no openings to get on attack

He doesn’t go for bonkers, low percentage shots (just 3 aggressive UEs from the back), so sticking it out and hoping for Korda to miss? Generally speaking, Korda is a streaky player that one wouldn’t expect to maintain iron standard for too long, so its hardly bad strategy

Not great efficiency in hitting winners or forcing errors from back, but its part of what keeps Kraj from getting on offence. And next piece of puzzle more than makes up slack

Korda’s 13/15 rallying to net. He’s got 6 volley winners, just 1 error (an FE), forces 6 passing errors. Bad look passing errors, 5 of them from the BH that’s bullied in baseline rallies and doesn’t look up to making good, let alone bad look passes. Kraj has 1 passing winner

Approaches are commanding and does much of the work, but near perfect finishing from Korda. His volleys leave Kraj with even worse looks than the approaches do - as good net play should

Pushed back, bullied, relegated to counter-punching is best Kraj has off baseline. Finding net is alternative
Rallying there is up hill work. He’s 3/5 so doing
Chip-charging is another get out. He’s 2/9 so doing, with Korda calmly shooting passing winners by. If he can get set for pass, Korda’s lethal

Gist - outstanding from Korda to mash Krajicek in just about all ways

 

[Waspsting]

Krajicek serve game & serve-volley
Kraj serve-volleys 100% of the time. And of course, serves huge
27% of his first serves are aces and 52% of his serves don’t come back. Normal stuff for him

What isn’t is the serving pattern. He’s gone out of his way to avoid Korda’s famed BH and directs just 26% serves there, along with 59% to FH and remaining 15% to body. Korda encourages it by taking quite central position in ad court, leaving out wide to FH corner open

With Kraj serving 59% to FH, 26% to BH, Korda on the return has -
- FH 25 returns, 9 winners, 14 FEs
- BH 9 returns, 11 FEs

Its self evident that FH return has been far more successful than BH - for consistency and for ultimate damage done

Can you blame Kraj? All that is in context of 52% unreturned serves. And 8/9 return winners clustered in the 3 games he’s broken in (2 to 15, 1 to 30)

Blame him a little. If Korda’s strong off both wings, best to mix it up to him. He might have a dangerous BH return, but FH ain’t no gentle push either. A lesson which should have come home to Kraj in the baseline rallies, where its FH Korda turns to first to do damage

Slightly conservative serve placement from Kraj too. The return winners are picked up from where they can be readily reached and hoicked wide for winners. Credit Korda for staying close to baseline to return for cutting down the angle (at obvious cost of having less time to play the return) and keeping a few in nice reach

For Kraj, 27% first serves being aces on a court like this is probably on small side
In ‘98 and ‘99 finals, the figure would be 44% and 33%, against similarly bold returners (neither take it as early as Korda does here)
Conservative placement? For getting 66% of those first serves in and still scoring 52% freebies, well worth it. All credit to Korda for finding such returns. Wouldn’t hurt Kraj to slip a couple to BH is about extent of Kraj’s role in them

52% freebies aside, Kraj wins 13/37 or 35% when return is made (including double faults. Excluding them, 38%)
He’s not great on the volley, but good enough and more credit to Korda’s returning and passing for that

Kraj with 10 volley winners, 3 UEs, 9 FEs
Korda with 9 passing winners in play, 7 FEs (to go with 9 return-pass winners at return rate 46%)

Kraj’s ‘could-do-better’ mark on the volley is not handling difficult ones too well. The high FEs aren’t flagrantly forced and possible to make a few more than he manages. UEs are low but crucial one costs him first set and its easily routine as can be

Korda’s passing numbers are deceptive as 4 of the winners are against chip-charge returns where he has good look at pass. Even so, that’s a fine yield against solid, well placed volleys. 2 of his FEs being swinging volleys from back of court gets to his very aggressive mindset

Gist - Krajicek serving great, maybe a little too predictably going to FH
- 3 clusters of fantastic return-passes from Korda getting him breaks. Can a server plan for such a thing, while generally gaining 52% unretured serves?
- Kraj not too good at handling difficult volleys, Korda passing very well

Match Progression
No breaks, no break points in first set (with 1 Kraj hold missing), with Kraj holding more easily

Kraj loses 1 point in holding 5 times, Korda 7 in 6 holds going into ‘breaker
Kraj does his things with ‘botting and 15/21 serves don’t come back in regular games
Korda dispatches third ball for winners and winning shots, or comes to net early with authority. Blitz’ passing winners against odd chip-charge

Tiebreak. Korda makes 6/7 first serves, Kraj 1 better
Great return from Korda sets up follow up pass that flagrantly forces volley error to give him 2-0
Nicely manufactured approach from Kraj sees him come away with BHV winner to get things back on serve for 2-3
And game stays on serve ‘til the end. There are 2 crucial points
At 6-5, set point returning, Kraj misses routine first return. About as good a chance as he could hope for
Couple points later, its Korda’s first set point. Kraj misses a routine putaway BHV and that’s the set

Second set starts with a bang and a break. 3 bangs to be more precise - FH return winners from inside-in and 2 cc. Both the cc’s are against first serves, the second against a body serve. Kraj with routine FHV to finish the job

Korda holds cozily as he had earlier and adds another break near the end (2 FH inside-in return pass winners against second serves, to go with a double fault and a routine BHV UE). He serves out by dispataching a FH cc pass winner against chip-charge return

Third set is the only one where Korda actually looks threatening in general. Kraj chip-charges more too, with little else working but Korda remains on point on the pas
Similar story to previous set. 1 break, its to 15 and has 3 FH return-pass winners in it (2 inside-out, 1 dtl) and this time, a forced second volley error after Kraj makes 1/2volley first up

The break gives Korda 3-2 and Kraj has mini shadow of chances to get back in the set. He’s got 15-30 in back-to-back return games. Korda with some powerful serving of his own to deal with those games. In one of them, he pulls off an unlikely running FH dtl pass winner at 15-30 in rare occasion Kraj was able to create strong approach. Kraj doesn’t have it easy to hold either

In time, Korda serves out to love, finishing with third ball BH cc winner followed by a not too wide, BH cc pass winner against chip-charge return

Summing up, commanding showing for Korda. He doesn’t have a great serve, but backs it up almost perfectly with a combo of decisively dealing with weak returns both from baseline and by coming in or pressuringly taking opponent apart in baseline rallies

Krajicek full on serve-volleys with typical big serving drawing huge load of freebies. He’s a little predictable in targetting Korda’s FH return - and pays price for it, amidst general domination

Statisitcally, very neat
Krajicek has 3 volley UEs - all of them in games he’s broken or in losing tiebreak
Korda has 9 return winners. 8 are in the 3 games he breaks in

 

[Galvermegs]

Korda probably was a bit lucky to have that one major but he was still an exciting, flashy player. It is a huge what if for me if sampras made the quarters at the uso that same year.
Otoh krajicek could easily have had 2 or 3 majors if things went his way a bit more. He didnt let this loss faze him and had a wonderful showing in stuttgart in 1998.. thrashing all the big names. Nalbandian may have had remarkable masters success (especially in 2007), but no slam. Krajicek had that peak level few would want to face, perhaps in any era.

 

[mental midget]

Korda probably was a bit lucky to have that one major but he was still an exciting, flashy player. It is a huge what if for me if sampras made the quarters at the uso that same year.
Otoh krajicek could easily have had 2 or 3 majors if things went his way a bit more. He didnt let this loss faze him and had a wonderful showing in stuttgart in 1998.. thrashing all the big names. Nalbandian may have had remarkable masters success (especially in 2007), but no slam. Krajicek had that peak level few would want to face, perhaps in any era.

korda was a keck of a ball striker when he was on. cant remember if rios had any physical issues in their ao final (and i know there's the cloud of drug use) but he really took him apart in that match.